The Canadian government is launching consultations on proposals to fast-track federal assessments of major projects, with the goal of completing reviews and making decisions within one year. This move comes after criticism that the current process is too slow.
Streamlining the approval process
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced on Friday that the government will engage with Canadians over a 30-day period on streamlining reviews of large projects. The government is proposing to ensure federal reviews and decision-making timelines take no more than a year once proponents have submitted all the project information.
Additionally, the government is looking to create a regulatory system that would require only a single federal decision for major project approvals. These proposed changes would apply to all projects reviewed by the federal government, expanding beyond the current policy of rendering a decision within two years for proposals referred to the Major Projects Office.
In a statement, LeBlanc said: "The proposed regulatory and legislative reforms are part of our ambitious plan to build a stronger Canada — helping companies across the country build their projects faster, attracting investment, boosting our competitiveness, and growing Canada's economy."
Trade diversification consultations
Alongside the project approval changes, the government is also launching consultations on proposals to diversify Canadian trade. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on any single market and strengthen economic resilience.
The consultations will run for 30 days, after which the government will consider feedback before implementing final regulations. The goal is to balance economic growth with environmental and community considerations.
